ALWAGHT- The Israeli regime has declared the seizure of approximately 6,000 acres of Palestinian land in the West Bank, marking its largest annexation in decades as part of its ongoing land grab policy.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the confiscation of 24,000 dunums (approximately 5,930 acres) of land in the West Bank, declaring them “state lands,” according to Channel 14 on Friday. This move represents nearly half of all land classified as "state lands" since the Oslo Accords in 1993 and is expected to significantly impact regional planning.
Smotrich described the decision as a step to create settlement continuity, develop land reserves for infrastructure, and strengthen Israeli settlements. In a post on X, he stated, “We establish facts on the ground and prevent the formation of a Palestinian state.”
The land grab includes plans to expand illegal settlements such as Ma’ale Adumim, Migdal Oz, Susya, and Yafit, with Ma’ale Adumim set to grow by 2,600 dunums (642 acres) to connect with Kedar. Smotrich called the decision a “historic achievement” to bolster settlement activity and infrastructure projects.
Currently, over 700,000 Israelis live in more than 230 settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds, which international law considers illegal. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements.
This latest land appropriation comes amid intensified Israeli aggression against Palestinians in the West Bank and a devastating war in Gaza since October 7, which has claimed over 44,500 lives in the besieged enclave.